5 Players to Watch as Buffalo Bills Start Training Camp

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — As the Buffalo Bills begin training camp at St. John Fisher University, the team looks much different than it has in recent memory.

Sure, there are the stalwarts like Josh Allen, Dion Dawkins, Matt Milano and Dawson Knox, but on both sides of the ball, there will be new faces battling for starting spots and to make the 53-man roster.

Here are the five players I’m most excited about as we prepare to head to Rochester:

Keon Coleman

Picking Coleman as one of my five players to watch is almost cheating. He’s the most obvious answer and the guy who will likely draw the most attention the moment he steps on the field.

Whether it’s fair or not, Coleman has a big personality and even bigger expectations as the Bills’ first-round pick in 2024. It was clear during minicamp and OTAs that Coleman can play, the question is how long it will take him to earn Josh Allen’s trust. It’s important to be patient with Coleman, but he has an opportunity to make an immediate impact and that starts with a strong camp.

Jack Browning

Not to be confused with Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning, the Bills signed Jack as an undrafted free agent in April. Browning took over all kicking duties at San Diego State after the Bills drafted Matt Araiza in 2022. Browning can punt, kick field goals and be a kickoff specialist.

Tyler Bass’s primary kicker job is secure, but Browning could beat out Sam Martin as the Bills’ kicker. He has an uphill battle ahead, but if Browning has a strong summer, the Bills could appreciate his versatility and potential after Martin’s inconsistency in 2023.

From Miller

It’s crazy to go from an undrafted free agent to a first-round Hall of Famer, but here we are. Von Miller is one of the biggest wild cards in the NFL this season. Coming off the worst year of his career, Miller’s range of outcomes in 2024 is a mystery.

What we do know is that Miller can’t be any worse this year than he was last year. Given his contract, the Bills need him to be productive, but after setting the bar so low in 2023, any contribution he makes could be viewed as a pleasant surprise. It’s unrealistic to think Miller can be a double-digit sack player again, but if he can get six or seven, I think the Bills would be happy given his age and circumstances.

Kaiir Elam

Elam hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with a first-round pick, but as he enters his third season, he’s got some positive momentum. With Rasul Douglas out for most of the Bills’ voluntary offseason workouts, Elam got a chance to step into a bigger role for a few weeks and he made the most of it. Elam won’t permanently dethrone Douglas or Benford, but if he can be a good No. 3 cornerback, the Bills will view that as a positive step as he continues to develop as a player.

KJ Hamler

With all the changes at receiver, Hamler is the guy who has gone the most under the radar. A former second-round pick, Hamler is fast and has big-play ability, but he has been plagued by injuries since the 2020 season. After playing 13 games as a rookie, Hamler has only played 10 games since. If he can stay healthy, Hamler gives the Bills a skill set they don’t otherwise have, but he needs to have a strong camp to even be considered. As it stands, I think the six receivers the Bills will keep are Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins and Chase Claypool. But don’t underestimate Hamler just yet, especially if he can catch a few deep passes from Allen to St. John Fisher.